And other things I never thought
I would say until I became a mother!
Sharing the adventures I have as a single mom and glorifying God through it all.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Oglebay

I wanted to make this Christmas special in its own way.

After moving into a small apartment, I soon realized we didn't need everything I thought we needed. Most of the toys the kids thought they liked were soon forgotten, boxed up.

I wasn't overly excited about buying new toys to bring in. They soon get shoved aside and forgotten. So this Christmas is going to be a bit slim in the gift department.

I don't want the kids to feel that they were jipped in some sort of way, so I decided to make memories this year instead of gifts.

Last week we went to Oglebay to the Winter Festival of Lights. I asked my friend Norma, from work, to go along and she was excited I asked her. She has come along with me on many of my crazy adventures!

Oglebay is in Wheeling, WV. It is about 2-2 1/2 hours from here. Yep. I drove 2+ hours each way in one night to see Christmas lights.

But oh my. Was it worth it.

We left around 4:30 stopping at Mickey D's for dinner (part of the fun night out). We made it to Oglebay around 7:30 after stopping multiple times for potty breaks. (I don't get it. We have to stop twice for potty breaks on a 2 hour drive. We have to stop twice for potty breaks on our 9 hour drives. Must be some rule about stopping twice).

The kids thought I was crazy for doing this. I went there once as a child, vaguely remembering it, but remembering it was awesome. I hoped it was worth it.

Memories are easy to pack and last a lifetime, a toy needs picked up, put away, and is easily broken.

We pulled in and immediately went under a long tunnel of lights. The kids sat up and took notice.

It was incredible. I tried to take pictures but they came out fuzzy in the dark.

We drove around for a little over an hour, laughing and pointing at all the amazing light displays. Some were perched up on a hillside, while others looked like they were moving.

We headed home around 9 and made it home in 2 hours, just a little past 11.

We woke up a little groggy the next morning for school, but it was so worth it. I'm hoping that the kids remember this crazy trip.